The 17th New Life Family Walkathon

At around 10 a.m., the walkathon started with a lovely performance by the New Life Children’s Choir. At around 11 a.m., the guests were introduced, and Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah of the WeLoveU Foundation explained the purpose of this walkathon at the opening ceremony, “We’re going to give hope and courage with a mother’s love to the families marginalized from welfare service in Korea, the earthquake victims and climate refugees whose lives collapsed in front of disasters.” She appreciated the participants and said, “Enduring a short and painful life alone is a misfortune. Let’s give hope and comfort to our global neighbors living lonely lives.” She added a message of comfort and encouragement to the neighbors, telling them to cheer up since we were backing them.

Oscar Herrera Gilbert, Ecuadorian Ambassador, expressed his gratitude for the works of the WeLoveU Foundation for global villagers, and mentioned the damages from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake which hit his country, “Your beautiful unity will give hope, courage, and comfort to those who are suffering. I hope that our footsteps will be a new beginning for those who are suffering from the natural disasters.”

Zulfiqur Rahman, Bangladesh Ambassador, delivered his congratulation message in Korean, congratulating the opening of the walkathon. He emphasized that all the global villagers are one family, saying, “We are one living in two different countries.” He delivered the misery of climate changes in his country, and expressed his gratitude to the Foundation members for their volunteer activities and love for mankind, saying, “The WeLoveU Foundation is doing volunteer activities not only in Korea, but in Bangladesh and in many other countries. We welcome the volunteer activities of the WeLoveU Foundation supporting the climate refugees of the developing countries.”

It was followed by the video congratulation messages of Mohammed Ali Nafti the Tunisian Ambassador, and of Nam Gyeong-pil the Gyeonggi Province Governor. Then the donation delivery ceremony was held to help the earthquake victims in Ecuador; climate refugees in Gabon, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Cambodia, and India; and to provide living expenses and medical expenses to households marginalized from welfare service in twelve autonomous communities in the capital area of Korea.

With Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah’s declaration to start, the fanfare sounded and the second part of the event, the main walkathon event, started. Shouting the chant, “With a smile and a loving heart, give hope to 7 billion people in the world,” they started from Han Eul Square and along the walking path. They shared love with their family members while walking by different events prepared along the path such as expressing love for family, laughing out loud, walking while clapping, ringing the bell of hope, and exciting dance. Jahng Su-bin, a member from Nowon-gu, Seoul, explained that he liked the family-friendly atmosphere of the members, and said, “I was sad to hear about the earthquakes that occurred in Japan and Ecuador. I’m grateful that I can give help to them though small, through this walkathon. They’re having a hard time now, but I want them to remember that they have people in distant countries who are supporting and cheering for them. I wish them to always keep hope.”

After finishing walking, the members gathered together by family and had a happy time, having lunch. While looking around the photo exhibition, they understood the seriousness of climate disasters, and looked back at the past activities of the WeLoveU Foundation. The members who looked around the exhibition said, “I thought helping neighbors was something difficult, but I’ve learned that I can help our neighbors just by walking like this,” and they sent a message of cheer to the Ecuadorian earthquake victims. Jeon Hyeon-gap, a member from Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, was happy to see him and his family in one of the walkathon pictures from a couple of years ago. He said, “My son was a boy in the picture, but he is now a young adult. Every year, my family participates in the walkathon because we can spend a great time together and help our unfortunate neighbors as well.” Various events such as face-painting and family picture taking were prepared for the spring picnic of the members and their families.

The foreign diplomats said that it was a meaningful and heart-moving event, and expressed their amazement and thankfulness for the event which gets bigger in size every year and for the help of the Foundation. The Foundation members want to be companions of the neighbors who are having hard times, and deliver a mother’s love to them through the walkathon. Obviously, the love of a mother was giving dreams and hope to our neighbors around the world.